The Senate Commerce chair was in the middle of some of the Legislature’s most contentious issues.

Sen. Jarrett Keohokalole is often at the center of critical and controversial issues at the Legislature, which last session included bills on condominium insurance, invasive species, Hawaiian Electric Co. and Hawaiian homelands.

Unlike many of his colleagues, he is not shy about speaking out, such as repeatedly finding fault with the state Department of Agriculture for not doing enough to combat little fire ants or proposing a casino for the Department of Hawaiian Home Lands to help place Native Hawaiian beneficiaries in homes.

Keohokalole’s willingness to stand out was perhaps most evident late last session when he delivered a 12-minute floor speech denouncing a bill that he argued helped

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